Thanks Jim. I wish I’d know about FR on that horrible day. As it was, we sat, terrified and horrified, in the Hart Senate Office Building getting our information from CNN and Fox. Capitol Police were as in the dark as the rest of us. We received multiple conflicting evacuation “recommendations”, but no clear plan of action was available or suggested. Finally the Senator I worked for ordered us all out (while steadfastly refusing to leave himself!)
Years later, after joining FR, I re-read these threads. I remembered calling my mother to tell her we were being evacuated—because there was another inbound plane—and that I loved her. I couldn’t call my husband until 5pm because all of the cell circuits in DC were flooded. Had I been a FReeper that dark day, I’m sure I would have found some comfort in the community of brave souls that offered both prayers and information.
God bless the passengers of Flight 93 and God Bless Free Republic.
6:54 a.m. Fourth cell phone call from Tom Burnett to Deena (his wife)
Deena: Tom?
Tom: Hi. Anything new?
Deena: No
Tom: Where are the kids?
Deena: They’re fine. They’re sitting at the table having breakfast. They’re asking to talk to you.
Tom: Tell them I’ll talk to them later
Deena: I called your parents. They know your plane has been hijacked.
Tom: Oh…you shouldn’t have worried them. How are they doing?
Deena: They’re O.K.. Mary and Martha are with them.
Tom: Good. (a long quiet pause) We’re waiting until we’re over a rural area. We’re going to take back the airplane.
Deena: No! Sit down, be still, be quiet, and don’t draw attention to yourself!
Tom: Deena! If they’re going to crash this plane into the ground, we’re going to have do something!
Deena: What about the authorities?
Tom: We can’t wait for the authorities. I don’t know what they could do anyway.
It’s up to us. I think we can do it.
Deena: What do you want me to do?
Tom: Pray, Deena, just pray.
Deena: (after a long pause) I love you.
Tom: Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.
